How to Choose the Best Car Seat Newborn

The best car seat newborn is one that meets federal safety standards, fits your vehicle, comes with useful extras (like changing into the stroller) and fits within your budget. You should also make sure that the car seat is easily removed and put into of any vehicle, especially when you frequently switch between rental cars, taxis or your grandparents' vehicles.

Safety

Car seats are designed to protect your baby, and a good one should have some extra features that go beyond federal safety standards. These include padded inserts for the head and shoulders as well as air-repellent fabric to help keep them cool in hot vehicles and side-impact safety.

Another crucial safety aspect is the ease to install and use the seat. Ideally, you should be capable of snapping it into place with minimal effort, and with clear signs that it's secure in its place, level, and placed properly.

There are features that will help you with this like belt guides and built-in lockoffs to help you align the car seat with the seat belt of your vehicle. It is also important to avoid purchasing used car seats that might not be tested for safety or have been involved in an accident and might not protect your child. If you have to purchase a used one ensure that it's on the expiration date and isn't being sold by a private seller who doesn't have proof of ownership.

Another thing to keep in mind is that it's best to keep your baby in the car seat for no more than two hours per day unless they are in a lie-flat position. This is to avoid strain on their developing spine and to ensure that they have the chance to breathe regularly.

The choice of a car seat for infants is a significant investment, so you'll want to make sure that it has a long life span. Look for one that's designed to adapt to your child's needs and will last into the toddler years and on into the teenage years. Our parent testers were very impressed with the Axkid i-Size. It is suitable for children as young as birth and is able to be used up to age 7.

Nuna pipa air rx is a second alternative that can be used for a long time. It has a 360-degree rotation which means that you can switch it from front-facing to rear-facing as your child grows. It's also one of the lightest car seats that rotate on the market, and weighs less than nine pounds without its base. It's a great choice for parents who need to move their infant frequently between vehicles or plan to take it on taxi rides, holiday fly-drives, and trips with grandparents.

Comfort

A quality infant car seat in front seat car seat will be comfortable for your baby both when they are in the seat as well as when you install it. Find straps that are padded to are comfortable to wear around their shoulders, and look for soft fabric that is comfortable beneath their stomachs. This is crucial if you plan to use the seat for a long duration.

The best car seat infant infant car seats are also simple to use. Some come with premium LATCH connectors with a SuperCinch force multiplier and tightener. Others have spring-loaded leveling legs and belt paths to make installation without a base easier than ever. Other features allow you to adjust the harness height and headrest, which is crucial as your child grows.

One example is the Cosatto All in All Rotate, which our parent testers gave 10 out of 10 for its ease of use. It features a clear, simple interface, a no-rethread easy-to adjust harness, a 360-degree rotation, as well as recline lock indicator. It is easy to switch your child's position from front-facing to rear-facing as they grow without the need to take off and replace the seat.

Nuna Pipa Aire Rx is a similar example. Our parent testers were impressed by its comfort and simplicity, as well as its versatility. Its padding for the shoulder straps and headrest are designed to help support the head of your baby and comes with an extra soft pillow to ensure comfort. It can be used as a rear-facing car seat up until your baby reaches the maximum height or weight limit and can also be converted into a stroller without the need for a separate adapter.

A quality car seat is durable and some come with a guarantee. Find a seat that has plenty of padding and sturdy materials to shield your child from any injuries. It should also have a steel frame to absorb impact energy, and an "crumple area" to prevent crash damage. It must be easy to clean, as accidents are sure to happen when you have the growing age of a child. To simplify cleaning, look for a car seat with removable covers and an easy-to-clean pad.

Simple to Use

A car seat needs to be easy to install and use particularly if you're likely to use it in an alternate vehicle at times. Look for features such as an easy-release buckle, an indicator that displays the status of the latch system (e.g. green for locked) and a clear, easy-to-read guide to make it as stress-free as is possible.

The best car seats of The Bump winner includes a variety of useful features, which our parent testers loved, such as a cushioned headrest and harness, plush material and cup holders. It also has a reclining feature that allows your child to be seated in a more ergonomic position for longer journeys. It can also be used with a compatible buggy to create a complete travel system, which is ideal if you are planning to travel for long durations of time.

Suitable from birth, our panelists found this car seat easy to put in and adjust. It has recline lock indicators and an LATCH connector that is premium and comes with a SuperCinch force-multiplying tightener, which makes securement of your child quick and easy. It's also designed to be moved from side to side in the vehicle without the need for tools.

The recline feature makes it easier for you to get your baby in and out of the vehicle. This is particularly helpful if you have back issues or drive a smaller car. It also has an adjustable drink holder that can be reversible, as well as a convenient storage compartment for toys and snacks.

The seat is light and can be used without or with the base. It can also be rotated around 180 degrees. This is an excellent option if you're limited on space or have back pain. This new feature impressed our panelists and was selected to be part of the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards.

This is a great choice for those who want to transform their car seats into strollers for a reasonable price. Its sleek design and high-quality fabric will endure the test of time as well. Don't forget to wash the cover regularly as yoghurt spills, biscuits that have been crushed, and even sickening accidents with toddlers will leave their marks.

Design

The designs of car seats are as diverse as the vehicles they're used in. Some parents opt to ditch the infant car seat in favor of convertible models. However, the majority of new mothers want something that can expand with their child through the toddler years. The most versatile option is an all-in one top rated baby car seats car seat that allows you to change between rear-facing and forward-facing. It usually has a higher weight and height limit and can also be used as a booster when your child is old enough.

The ideal car seat for infants for infants is light and easy to take off the base with your baby inside. Our testers with parents loved the Maxi-Cosi Coral, which is only available in a handful of colors, but comes with plenty of safety features and is super lightweight (at 8.4 pounds with seat inserts and canopy). Nuna PIPA URbN is another model that stands out, because it won Gold in the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards Best Car Seat Group category, thanks to features that are high-end, such as the Dream drape and a canopy that covers the entire area with UPF 50+.

The design of the base and the seat should be taken into consideration. For instance, certain car seats use a special base that locks into the buckles of the seat belts, while others have steel-reinforced LATCH connectors that flip out from the sides of the base and turn green when they are attached correctly. These were a great option for parents, particularly in the case of vehicles with only front-facing seatbelts.

Certain infant car seat that swivels car seats can be used with regular seatbelts, but without the base. This is a great feature for parents who travel frequently or take taxis with their babies. Our parents who tested it really enjoyed the Nuna TODL NEXT, which can be used with or without the base. It features a smooth swivel movement that makes it simple to get your child into and out of the seat.

Other important considerations for design are whether a car seat has a lie flat design, and how well it is compatible with your car (see our guide to car seat compatibility). If you're in search of a new infant car seat that will grow along with your child's growth to become a booster seat, choose a model with a reclined backrest and side impact protection. It is also important to ensure that your chosen infant car seat in front seat car seat is i-Size compliant and uses the correct car seat attachment points in accordance with UK law.